Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-02-20

The established and growing CONT
Jence in the Northwestern Mutual Llie
Insurance Company is oncc more at
tested by the fact that during the year
inst closed the Company wrote larger
smount Of new insurance than during
any preceding year. The record shows
That the new insurauoe written by the
Northwestern in 1873 is one fourth
larger than in 1885 and one half larger
than in 1884. These gains were made
without seeking business in portions oil
our own country, long since inter
dicted by reason of less. favorable
mortality experience, or in foreign
countries where for prudential reasons
insurance commissioners are already
questioning the wisdom and safety OF
American companies seeking business.
1t is especially gratifying to note that,
while in many western States the. pusi-
ness of the company, both old and new,
IL larger than that Of any other company,
its aggregate new business In the great
Middle and New England States, where
il obtained foothold at first with much
opposition and difficulty, exceeds that OF
any eastern competitor, excepting only
the three leading New York companies.
The substantial growth OF the North
western may be more readily under
stood by looking back few years. AT
the beginning of 1880 the amount OF in
surance in force was not quite S62, Co.,
600; now it is over 1927, 600, 900, more
than double that sum, while the new
policies issued in 1886 cover more than
three times the amount Of insurance OF
those issued in 1880.
In 1880 this company was the sixth
in the list of companies as regards the
amount of new business secured 4; now
there are only three companies doing q
larger new business, and they are work
ing in the Gulf States and in foreign
countries. Since 1880 the assets have
increased from $1S,346, 212 to $685.
669,S7S.
The amount loaned on bond and
mortgage during the year was $780,
176.S5, on real estate valued at Sl3, $685.
439. The amount of outstanding loans
on the LIST Of January, 1887, was $2l,-
1913, 1887, secured by mortgages that
are first liens on real estate valued at
S6S, O54, S96.77.
There were II, 1853 new policies issued
in 1886, amounting to S28, 082, 620--an
increase of five and one half million
dollars over the new business of 1885.
Adding reservations, ETC., as is done
in the official reports as well as in
the advertisements Of other companies,
the amount Of new business of 1886 was
S31, 1925
The whole number of policies in force
January !, 1887, was 56, 544. amounting
to 1927, 500, 903, an increase for the year
of 6,444 policies and s16, 9l9, 042 in
surance.
Notwithstanding the large increase
in the amount of insurance in force
the death losses during the year
have been less than in 1885.
The ratio of death losses to the mean
amount insured has been as follows for
the past three years: 1884, 0.95; 1885,
0.9G; 1886, 0.S2-an experience much
more favorable than that of any other
large company. This means that the
death losses during these three years
were respectively $3.50, $3.50, and
IS. 20 per thousand CT insurance other
companies losing on the average about
S14 per thousand.
The Northwestern is the strongest of
the five great mutual companies of this
country, as shown by ratio of assets to
liabilities, and by reason Of its remark
ably low mortality and its location,
which affords choice real estate securi-
ties at the highest rate of interest, it
is furnishing the most favorable fnan-
cial results on its policies.
That these advantages are becoming
known here is evidenced by the fact
that the premiums received on neW
business by the Northwestern in Vir-
9Auia and North Carolina in 1856 were
aboSt double those of 1886, and about
treble thoa4 of 1884.